College Profiles/ George Washington University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
George Washington University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Washington, DC · 11,677 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to George Washington University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
George Washington University admitted 47.1% of 27,006 first-year applicants in the 2024-2025 Common Data Set.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1360 to 1470.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $95,155.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $43,676.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 5, Regular Decision Jan 5.[3]
47.1%
Overall admit rate[1]
1360 to 1470
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$95,155
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$43,676
Average need-based grant[1]
84.0%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
George Washington University at a Glance
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 13:1[1]
- Endowment
- $2.6 billion (federal data)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (required for BA/BS-MD and homeschooled applicants)[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition[3]
- First-year retention
- 92.2%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on George Washington University
The ConnectPrep take
GW reviews holistically, weighing course rigor, GPA, essays, recommendations and activities, with no minimum GPA or test score. The admit rate is 47.1% on 27,006 applicants, so a well built application has a real shot. There is no Early Action; your student chooses binding ED I on Nov 1, or ED II and Regular Decision on Jan 5, and applies to one specific school or college, which can be changed in the portal within two weeks of submitting. GW has been test optional since 2015, and 27% of enrolled students sent the SAT; with a middle 50% of 1360 to 1470, we advise 1415 or higher and a goal of 1470. The mistake we see is a future doctor applying ED: the BA/BS-MD Program is closed to ED applicants, requires the SAT or ACT, and is due Nov 15.
What to do this fall
- Pick the GW school or college deliberately, and use the two-week window after submitting if your student reconsiders.
- BA/BS-MD applicants should apply RD to Columbian College by Nov 15, with the SAT or ACT including ACT Science.
- Send an SAT of 1415 or higher, and keep working toward 1470 if time allows.
- Submit aid applications with the admission application: Nov 1 for ED I, Jan 5 for ED II and RD.
Applying to George Washington University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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George Washington University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
27,006 |
12,718 |
47.1% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 19.3%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
680 to 750 |
| SAT Math[1] |
670 to 750 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1360 to 1470 |
| ACT composite[1] |
30 to 33 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
27% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
12% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1470 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 33 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1420, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What George Washington University looks for
In its own words: GW takes a holistic approach to review, considering academic background, the rigor of high school courses, GPA, essays, recommendations and extracurricular involvement, with no minimum GPA or test score requirements.[6]
George Washington University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
ED I late Dec; ED II late Feb |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 5 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 5 |
late Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from George Washington University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
B.A./B.S.-M.D. Program
Before RD |
Nov 15 |
Due Nov 15 and not open to ED applicants (apply RD to Columbian College); SAT or ACT required (ACT Science required), one program essay; 20 to 30 students interviewed on campus.[7] |
| University Honors Program |
See note |
Indicate intent on the application and write two additional essays of 500 words or less.[7] |
| Corcoran Scholars |
Jan 5 |
Audition or portfolio via SlideRoom due Jan 5 plus an additional essay; ED I, ED II and RD applicants may apply.[7] |
| Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship |
Jan 10 (counselor nomination) |
For D.C. residents at D.C. high schools; must apply by Jan 5 with CSS Profile and FAFSA and be nominated by a counselor by Jan 10; includes required essay and interview.[8] |
| FIRST Robotics and Scottish Rite Scholarships |
Feb 1 (Scottish Rite) |
Each requires an additional application; Scottish Rite application is open Oct 1 to Feb 1. Presidential Academic Scholarships are automatic.[9] |
| Financial aid applications |
Nov 1 (ED I); Jan 5 (ED II, RD) |
Aid deadlines match the admission deadlines.[3] |
See how George Washington University compares with other colleges in the Mid-Atlantic deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
George Washington University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$95,155 |
| Tuition[2] |
$72,000 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
51.3% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$43,676 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$64,025 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
91.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
617 students, average $25,357 |
New first-year student living in GW residence halls; includes tuition, mandatory and matriculation fees, housing and food, and books, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $95,155 cost of attendance down to roughly $51,479 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$17,440 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$17,292 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$22,080 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$28,100 |
| Over $110,000 |
$55,337 |
| All aided students |
$36,586 |
Academics and Majors at George Washington University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences32%
- Business/marketing15%
- Health professions and related programs14%
- Psychology6%
- Computer and information sciences6%
Signature programs
BA/BS-MD Program
A joint program of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences for students who have already decided to become physicians.[6]
University Honors Program
A cross-university community of scholars open to students in all of GW's schools and colleges, entered through an additional essay.[6]
Corcoran Scholars
A special program supporting artistic exploration across disciplines through the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design.[6]
Foggy Bottom location
GW's Foggy Bottom campus sits in the heart of the nation's capital, within walking distance of many influential organizations.[5]
Choosing a major and getting in
Applicants apply to one of GW's schools or colleges and may change that selection in the applicant portal within two weeks of submitting; some changes may be possible after admission. BFA applicants to the Corcoran School submit a portfolio.[6]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I (November 1, binding).
- Early Decision II (January 5, binding).
- BA/BS-MD Program (test scores required).
- University Honors Program.
- Corcoran Scholars.
- Spring admission (October 1 deadline).
George Washington University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
92.2% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
75.8% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
84.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$90,873 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$20,449 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
16% |
Make George Washington University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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George Washington University FAQs
What is the George Washington University acceptance rate?
George Washington University admitted 47.1% of first-year applicants (12,718 of 27,006), according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
When are the George Washington University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 5; Regular Decision Jan 5. 1 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does George Washington University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $95,155. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $43,676.
What SAT score do you need for George Washington University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1360 to 1470 on the SAT and 30 to 33 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1470, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (required for BA/BS-MD and homeschooled applicants).
Is George Washington University test optional?
Yes, for most applicants. GW has been test optional since 2015, but scores are required for BA/BS-MD applicants, homeschooled applicants, and students whose schools give only narrative evaluations. The middle 50% SAT is 1360 to 1470 and the ACT is 30 to 33. We advise submitting an SAT at or above the 1415 midpoint.
How do you join the GW University Honors Program?
Your student indicates interest on the application and writes two additional essays of 500 words or less. The University Honors Program is a cross-university community open to students in all of GW's schools and colleges. We encourage students to treat those essays as seriously as the main supplement, since they are the only honors-specific evidence in the file.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by George Washington University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
